Sermon Manuscript

[[Video:  “Beyond Belief - Bumper”]

Good morning!  Welcome to the Fountain.  My name is Joshua Hahn and I am the Senior Minister here.  If you are new here this morning we want to say welcome to you.  We are so glad you are with us today.  We believe that this is a place that you can belong, grow, and make a difference.  And it is my hope and prayer that you will discover that today and then begin coming regularly.  Ultimately, it is my hope and prayer that you will make this your church home.

But before we get started this morning I have one quick announcement for you.  For those of you who have taken shoe boxes as part of our Operation Christmas Child missions project we want to remind you to bring those back by November 15th which is a Friday.  That means that next Sunday, November 9th, is the last Sunday to bring them in.  If you forget you can still bring them up to the 15th but don’t wait until the 17th because you will have missed the shipping window.  We’ve prepaid for shipping and they need to go out on the 15th.  Also, if for some reason you took a box but cannot fill it please bring it back anyway and we will fill it for you.  Currently, we have 55 outstanding boxes.  So we need those 55 back by the 15th.  55 by the 15th.  That has a nice ring to it!  55 by the 15th.  That’s the goal.

Alright.  This morning we wrap up a series of messages called Beyond Belief in which over the past three weeks have been examining truths from Scripture which are beyond belief.  They’re just too good to be true.  So in week one we began this series by examining the topic or subject of Freedom.  Romans 8:1 says, “Therefore, there is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus for the law of the Spirit of life has set you free from the law of sin and death.”  Jesus set us free from sin, death, hell, and the grave.  He conquered our greatest enemies and has completely set us free through His death on the cross.  And the freedom He gives us if we properly understand it is truly beyond belief.  Too good to be true.  In week number two we examined the topic of Radical Change.  Romans 12:2 says, “Do not be conformed to this world but be transformed by the renewal of your mind.”  Paul said that we can behave differently when we learn to think differently.  About ourselves, our world, and our decisions.  We can change into the image of Jesus!  It’s a truth that is beyond belief and simply too good to be true!  And then last week we looked at the topic of Knowing God’s Will.  1 Corinthians 2:26 says that “we have the mind of Christ.”  God has given to us His Word and His Spirit in order to help us to know His Will for our lives.  We can know God’s Will.  It does not have to be difficult or hard.  God wants us to know His Will for our lives.  And today we’re going to wrap up this series by examining the topic of the resurrection.  The resurrection of Jesus Christ.

But we’re not going to examine a passage we might have on Easter Sunday.  Typically on Easter we would examine the story of Jesus’ resurrection in order to examine what happened and how He is alive.  But today we’re going to examine a passage which doesn’t answer the question of what happened but rather why.  Why it’s so important.  We’re going to start with why.

Several years ago I read a great book called Start with Why by Simon Sinek.  Maybe some of you have heard of it?  It’s a business book but the basic premise is that great companies don’t start with what they do, they start with why they do it.  And he uses a bullseye illustration to show how great companies start with why then in the middle then move out to describe both what they do and how they do it.  For example, Apple is a company that starts with why.  Apple began in 1976 when two friends named Steve Wozniak and Steve Jobs cofounded the company.  They began making computers and while Wozniak was fascinated with the technology Jobs knew that the company would fail if no one would buy it.  So he began to market the company as one that enables you to make a difference in your world through the use of technology.  And the products they would sell then are their answer to how you can do it.  But their goal was to inspire.  And as a result last year they reported 391 Billion dollars in revenue.  Because they started with why.

And the same is true with our faith.  When it comes to the resurrection of Jesus Christ, the most important event in human history, we need to not only know what happened but why it matters.  So why does the resurrection of Jesus matter?  Why does it matter to you and to me?  What would happen if we woke up tomorrow and somehow it was shown that the resurrection never actually happened and that it was not true?  What would happen to your faith and mine?

Let’s find out.  Because today we’re going to discover six ways in which our faith falls apart if the resurrection is not true but also six ways in which our faith is confirmed and validated if it is true.  So if you have your Bibles, turn with me now to the book of 1 Corinthians chapter 15.  Today we’re going to be examining verses 12-28.  If you would like to follow along with us online you can do so by using our app.  It’s called Church Center.  And if you open it and click on Sunday Services followed by Message Notes you’ll find everything you need for our time together.

The book of 1 Corinthians we learned last week was a letter written by Paul to the church in Corinth.  Corinth was a port city in Greece.  Paul planted this church during his second missionary journey but wrote to them during his third.  And apparently he needed to do so because there were a number of problems.  Last week, you might recall how one of the issues was division that had crept into the church.  Some of the believers were saying “I follow Paul” or “I follow Peter” or “I follow Apollos” and so Paul wrote to them and basically said, “What are you doing?  Did I die for you?  Were you baptized into Peter’s name?  No!  Of course not.  So all of us are just servants of Jesus.  Stop raising us up to be more than we are!  Focus on Jesus.  He’s the One who died for you!  He’s the One in whom you were baptized!  He’s the One who has changed your life!  Not us!”  It was a big, big, problem.

But apparently another problem was also that some of the people in the church were no longer believing in the resurrection.  So in chapter 15 Paul reminds them that Jesus died, was buried, and three days later rose from the grave.  He also appeared to Peter, the twelve, more than 500 others, James, and last of all Paul.  And it was Paul who then preached the gospel to them and proclaimed the resurrection of Jesus.  And they believed in it.

But notice what happened beginning in verse 12.  Paul writes:

12 Now if Christ is proclaimed as raised from the dead, how can some of you say that there is no resurrection of the dead? 13 But if there is no resurrection of the dead, then not even Christ has been raised. 14 And if Christ has not been raised, then our preaching is in vain and your faith is in vain. 15 We are even found to be misrepresenting God, because we testified about God that he raised Christ, whom he did not raise if it is true that the dead are not raised. 16 For if the dead are not raised, not even Christ has been raised. 17 And if Christ has not been raised, your faith is futile and you are still in your sins. 18 Then those also who have fallen asleep in Christ have perished. 19 If in Christ we have hope in this life only, we are of all people most to be pitied.

Alright.  Let’s stop here for a minute.  Paul begins in verse 12 by asking the question, “How can some of you say that there is no resurrection of the dead?”  And then he begins to lay out six ways in which our faith falls apart if the resurrection of Jesus Christ is not true.  So let’s take a look at each one of them quickly.  Let’s see what’s at stake.  First of all, if Jesus is dead then Paul says that Christianity comes to an end.  Because in verse 13 he says, “If there is no resurrection of the dead then even Christ was not raised from the dead.”  Then he repeats that in verse 16, “For if the dead are not raised, not even Christ has been raised.”  Simply put.  It all comes crashing down if Jesus is not alive.  All of Christianity rests upon this one truth.  The truth that Jesus is alive.  He died on a cross, was buried, and three days later rose from the grave.  If that is not true then everything falls apart.  Everything rests upon the resurrection of Jesus.

And Paul makes this clear as he continues.  Because he says in verse 14 that if Jesus is dead then the Christian message is worthless.  The Gospel is worthless.  The Gospel is the Good News that Jesus is alive and if He’s not then this message is worthless.  So, too, is the ministry of those who proclaim it.  Because in verse 15 Paul says that if Jesus is dead then preachers are liars who misrepresent God.  All preachers.  Paul, Peter, Apollos, and every single preacher or believer who ever proclaimed that Jesus is alive throughout all of history.  Myself included.  All of us are liars who are misrepresenting God.  Verse 17 then says that if Jesus is dead then believers are still sinners and guilty before God.  Why?  Because it was the death of Jesus that paid for our sins and the resurrection of Jesus that confirmed that our debt had been paid.  But if our debt was not paid then we are all still sinners and all still guilty before God.  Fifth, Paul says that if Jesus is dead then those who died believing have now perished.  Those who have “fallen asleep” or died believing that Jesus was alive will not be given Eternal Life.  Nope.  They have perished and are now lost forevermore.  Finally, Paul then finishes in verse 19 by saying that if Jesus is dead then none have hope and believers should be pitied.  No one has hope.  The hope of Eternal Life goes away if Jesus was not raised from the dead.  And if no one truly has hope and yet we have pretended to have hope in this life then we are the most delusional.  We are the most hopeless of all.  And we should be pitied above all else.

So do you see what Paul is saying?  Paul is saying to Christians living in Corinth that “If you stop believing in the resurrection of Jesus Christ then you have just thrown away everything!  Because everything rests upon the truthfulness of this one historical event.  If Jesus is not alive then everything you have believed in falls apart because everything rests upon it!”  In other words, “Do not ever let go of your faith in the resurrection of Jesus because if you do then your faith will fall apart.  Your message will fall apart.  You will misrepresent God, be guilty before Him, and remain a sinner who must be punished.  You will have no hope for Eternal Life because if Jesus was not raised from the dead then you will not be raised from the dead!  You will perish along with all who went before you.  You will have no hope and be the most pitiful of all for having believed something and given your life to something that in the end was not true.”

Wow.  Pretty gruesome and grimly.  Probably like some of the people in costumes who were walking around your neighborhood on Friday night!  Right?  But fortunately after stating the negative Paul quickly turns to the positive.  And here’s what he says beginning in verse 20:

 20 But in fact Christ has been raised from the dead, the firstfruits of those who have fallen asleep. 21 For as by a man came death, by a man has come also the resurrection of the dead. 22 For as in Adam all die, so also in Christ shall all be made alive. 23 But each in his own order: Christ the firstfruits, then at his coming those who belong to Christ. 24 Then comes the end, when he delivers the kingdom to God the Father after destroying every rule and every authority and power. 25 For he must reign until he has put all his enemies under his feet. 26 The last enemy to be destroyed is death. 27 For “God has put all things in subjection under his feet.” But when it says, “all things are put in subjection,” it is plain that he is excepted who put all things in subjection under him. 28 When all things are subjected to him, then the Son himself will also be subjected to him who put all things in subjection under him, that God may be all in all. 

Aright.  So after having shared what they lose by not believing in the resurrection Paul now begins to share what they gain by believing in it.  Here’s six reasons for why Paul says they ought to believe in the resurrection of Jesus Christ.  Some of them were questioning it and so here’s how Paul addresses them.  Here’s what they receive because of the resurrection.  These are also the blanks on your outline.

First of all, if Jesus is alive then He is the first of many to be resurrected.  Verse 20 says that He is the “firstfruits” of those who have fallen asleep.  In other words, the very fact that Jesus is alive and that God raised Him from the dead means God will raise all who are in Him from the dead too.  It’s God’s promise to all believers.  He is the first of many to be raised from the dead.

Second, all who believe in Him will be made alive.  He mentions this in verses 21 and 22 when he says that just as all have died because of one man or Adam (the first to have sinned) so, too, all will be made alive because of one Man or Jesus.  Sin came through one man and Salvation and Eternal Life have come through another Man.  So Eternal Life is made available to us through the resurrection of Jesus Christ.

Third, those who died before will also be made alive.  Whereas before Paul had said that all who died believing in something that was not true have perished now he says the opposite.  Now he says that everyone who died before Jesus comes back who died believing that God raised Him from the dead.  Every one of those believers will also be made alive.  That means our parents and grandparents and great great great grandparents.  Every single believer has hope because of the fact that Jesus is alive.  Their hope is assured.  They will live again.

Fourth, Jesus will reign and all enemies will be punished.  Paul explains this in verses 23-25.  The resurrection of Jesus Christ by God has led to His ascension into heaven and His coronation as King.  He reigns supreme both now and forevermore.  And He will continue to reign until He comes again when God will place all of His enemies under Him.  

Fifth, death, our greatest enemy, will be destroyed.  Paul says that after all of our enemies have been defeated then our last and greatest enemy will be defeated.  Death itself.  Because when Jesus comes back and the dead in Christ are raised then death all will be given Eternal Life and death will be defeated forevermore.  Incredible!

Sixth, and finally, Jesus will be rewarded along with believers through Him.  Because when all things are put into subjection under Jesus then He will have been fully rewarded for all that He has done and when He is rewarded so, too, will all believers.  They will be rewarded for the faith that they have placed within the truthfulness of the resurrection.

Incredible.  So Paul gave six ways in which our faith falls apart if the resurrection is not true but then followed it up with six ways in which our faith is confirmed and validated if it is true.  And in writing what he did he answers our question.  Why does the resurrection of Jesus Christ matter?  Because everything rests upon it.  Everything rests upon the truthfulness of that one claim.  If Jesus is alive then He is the first of many to be resurrected.  Then all who believe in Him will be made alive.  Then all who died before He returns will be made alive.  Then He reigns and His enemies are being punished.  Then death itself is defeated and will one day be destroyed forever!  And because He is alive then He will be rewarded and so will we in Him!

Our faith rests upon the resurrection.  That was Paul’s point and what he made crystal clear to the church in Corinth.  And throughout the rest of this chapter he will go on to answer more questions about the resurrection.  Including how it will happen and what will happen in the end and if it will be physical.  Question after question after question.  But he had to start with why.  Why it was so important.  And why was it so important?  Because everything rests upon it.

This week within our Core 52 chapter called The Resurrection the author Mark Moore describes what’s at stake with the resurrection.  He begins this chapter by saying, “The resurrection is the bedrock of Christianity.  If Jesus didn’t rise from the dead, Christianity crumbles.”  It’s really that simple.  He then goes on to describe, however, four facts which are historically true which confirm the resurrection.  They are that first, Jesus of Nazareth was executed.  Second, the tomb was empty.  Third, the apostles believed Jesus had appeared to them in a tangible body.  And fourth, the Christian church was founded.  These four facts are undeniable.  They are confirmed in history.  He then, though, describes why this all matters.  And he, like Paul, gives six reasons.  He states that the resurrection shows Jesus completed His work, proved Himself to be both Lord and Christ, becomes our advocate before God, enables us to have fellowship with Him through His suffering and death, gives us power through the Holy Spirit, and gives us hope.  Hope that we, too, will be resurrected with Him and become fellow heirs and rulers.  More and more reasons for why the resurrection is so important.

You see what happened is important.  It’s important on an Easter Sunday morning to remember how the women went to the tomb, how Mary Magdalene met Jesus, how they ran and told the others, how Jesus later appeared to Peter on the road to Emmaus, and then to the disciples, and how through His post-resurrection appearances He confirmed that He was alive.  What happened is important.  But we can never, ever, ever forget why it is so important to our faith.  Because as Paul points out we have to always, always, always remember how everything rests upon the truthfulness of the resurrection.  If Jesus is alive then we have hope and Eternal Life.  But if He is not then everything we believe falls apart.  Christianity crumbles and our faith fails.  

What happened is important but why it happened is even more important.  And maybe this is why so little is given about the resurrection story?  Matthew gives us 10 verses.  Mark gives us 11.  Luke gives us 12.  John gives us 18.  So about 51 verses were used to tell the story.  But there are 7,957 verses in the New Testament.  So about .006% of the New Testament was used to tell the story of the resurrection.  Less than 1%.  But 99.99% was needed to explain why it was so important.  Because the New Testament authors “started with why”.

You know one of my favorite stories from this book, Start with Why, is found within the opening pages.  Simon Sinek says that in the early 1900’s a man by the name of Samuel Langley set out to become the very first man to pilot an airplane.  At the time public interest was high.  Experts were eager to contribute.  Money was readily available.  Langley was also highly regarded and a senior officer at the Smithsonian Institution, a mathematics professor who had also worked at Harvard.  He had important and powerful friends who worked in government and business.  Just some of them included Andrew Carnegie and Alexander Graham Bell.  He was also given a  $50,000 grant from the war department to fund his project.  A huge amount of money at the time!  So he had the people, the resources, and the talent.  His success was guaranteed.

Or was it?  Because a few hundred miles away a couple of brothers were working on their own flying machine.  Wilbur and Orville Wright.  And their passion to fly was so intense that it inspired the enthusiasm of a dedicated group in their hometown of Dayton, Ohio.  Yet, they had no funding.  No high-level connections.  Not a single person on their team had an advanced degree or college education.  But they came together in a humble bicycle shop in order to make their dream a reality.  And on December 17, 1903 a small group witnessed a man take flight for the very first time in history.

So how did they do it?  It wasn’t luck or motivation.  It wasn’t work ethic or intelligence.  Both groups had those qualities and both groups were pursuing the same goal.  But only the Wright brothers were able to inspire those around them and be successful.  Because only the Wright brothers “started with why”.

And the same thing is true for us spiritually.  Everything you and I believe in rests upon the truth of the resurrection of Jesus Christ.  And if we ever begin to question its importance like the church in Corinth did then we need to remind ourselves of why it matters.  It matters because our salvation and the forgiveness of our sins rests upon it.  It matters because our message and ministry of the Gospel rests upon it.  It matters because our Eternal Life and the destruction of our greatest enemy of Death rests upon.  It matters because it is the foundation of our faith.

The bottom line this morning is this…

Recognize why the resurrection of Jesus is the foundation of our faith.

Let’s pray.

[Prayer: For God to help us recognize the true significance of the resurrection.]

Copyright 2025 by Fountaintown Christian Church. All materials presented by Joshua Hahn are copyrighted material. No material may be copied, reproduced, epublished, uploaded, posted, or distributed in any way, without the express written approval of Fountaintown Christian Church. One copy may be downloaded for your personal, noncommercial home use provided that you 1) retain all copyright, trademark, and proprietary notices, 2) you make no modifications to the materials. For any other use, written permission is required. (Fountaintown Christian Church; c/o Joshua Hahn; P.O. Box 87, Fountaintown, IN 46130).